Careers in Early Learning and Child Care

Are you interested in a career in Early Learning and Child Care?

A career in Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) can be extremely rewarding. It offers the opportunity to work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children (from 12 weeks to 12 years old) during some of the most important developmental periods in these children’s lives.

Licensed early learning and child care centres, nursery schools, and family/group child care homes, throughout Manitoba, help promote the healthy development and well-being of children. Trained early childhood educators (ECEs) provide active, play-based learning environments for children.

In Manitoba, ECEs can work in licensed early learning and child care centres, nursery schools or as home-based child care providers.

Committed to children’s well-being

An ECE needs to have patience, energy, commitment and knowledge about children's developmental levels and needs. An ECE needs to be warm and responsive, as well as enthusiastic about nurturing children's learning.

ECEs in Manitoba have specific post-secondary training to understand, guide and support early childhood development, which is essential for the work they do in ensuring the health, safety and well-being of children. ECEs are also trained to create appropriate, stimulating environments for children to explore, play and learn.

  Early brain development research shows the first six years of life shapes children in critical ways. ECEs, in partnership with parents, can have a positive impact on how a child will learn and develop.

For a summary of early learning and child care services in Manitoba, please refer to the Early Learning and Child Care Services in Manitoba booklet.

Classification

Anyone working in a licensed early learning and child care centre or nursery school must be classified by Early Learning and Child Care at one of three levels:

  • Child Care Assistant (CCA)
  • Early Childhood Educator II (ECE II)
  • Early Childhood Educator III (ECE III)

Your education determines your classification level.

  • CCAs do not have formal early learning and child care education or have not yet completed it.
  • ECE IIs and ECE IIIs have approved post-secondary education in early childhood education. Generally, an ECE II has an approved diploma in early childhood education. An ECE III has an approved diploma plus an approved continuing education certificate or degree.

Child care regulations in Manitoba specify the number of trained ECEs required to work in licensed ELCC centres and nursery schools. Two-thirds of all staff working in preschool early learning and child care centres must be ECE IIs or ECE IIIs. Trained professional ECEs help to ensure the provision of safe, high-quality licensed ELCC services.

For more information about classification, please read the brochure, Information on the Classification of Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Assistants.

Benefits of a Career as an Early Childhood Educator

There are many benefits to a career in early childhood education, including:

  • Growing career opportunities
    Once you have completed your post-secondary education, there will be many job opportunities at a variety of centres and with various age groups. You may be interested in working toward becoming a director of a licensed child care centre. You may also be able to work as a child development counsellor, an early childhood education college instructor, or you may find employment working with children in other sectors.
  • Helping children, families and communities
    Working as an ECE in licensed early learning and child care helps shape a child’s future. Families and children benefit from high-quality licensed ELCC programs. Parents gain more flexibility to pursue their education or career goals. Children benefit from a caring and stimulating environment that promotes their development.

CCA Opportunities

  • Work as a child care assistant in an infant, preschool, school age centre or nursery school
  • Become a home-based child care provider
  • Upgrade your training to become an ECE
  • Become a substitute or casual staff at a centre or nursery school
  • Work as centre support staff , such as housekeeper, cook

ECE II Career Opportunities

  • Work as an ECE in an infant, preschool, school age centre or nursery school
  • Become a home-based child care provider
  • Work as a program supervisor
  • Become an assistant director or director of a school age centre
  • Become an assistant director or director of a nursery school

ECE III Career Opportunities

  • Work as an ECE in an infant, preschool, school age centre or nursery school
  • Become a home-based child care provider
  • Work as a program supervisor
  • Become an assistant director or director of an infant, preschool or school age centre
  • Become an assistant director or director of a nursery school
  • Work as a child development counsellor (some positions may only require ECE II classification)
  • Work as a family resource centre coordinator
  • Become an ECE instructor at a community college or university
  • Work as an ECE researcher at a university
  • Become a parenting program facilitator/parent support worker
  • Work in various positions in the Department of Education and Early Childhood Learning

Seeking Employment

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Learning / Early Learning and Child Care Division does not operate early  learning and child care facilities such as centres or homes; each licensed facility is an independent organization, which hires its own employees. You can search for licensed early learning and child care centres that you would like to work for, through Manitoba Child Care Search. Contact the early learning and child care facility directly to apply.

You can also check local newspapers or do an online search for job opportunities in your community area.

The Manitoba Child Care Association offers job postings on its website in each category of classification.


Early Learning and Child Care Program 210-114 Garry Street, Winnipeg MB R3C 4V4

Email: cdcinfo@gov.mb.ca

Phone: 204-945-0776 Toll-free: 1-888-213-4754 Fax: 204-948-2625 TTY: 204-945-3724

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m